TRAVERSE CITY -- Jeff Brown is a player without a position.
And that's just fine with the Traverse City Beach Bums' jack of all trades.
In the 2007 Traverse City Beach Bums' statistics, Brown is listed as an outfielder. On the 2008 roster online, he's categorized as an infielder.
In fact, both are partially true. The only thing missing is catcher.
Brown played 92 of Traverse City's 96 games last season at six different starting positions. All told, Brown played 39 games in right or left field, 31 at third base, 29 at second, nine at shortstop and six behind the plate.
"That's what I came up here to do," said Brown, who played mostly third and second base at Butler before joining the Bums. "(Director of baseball operations) Jason (Wuerfel) said, 'I need a utility player' and I said, 'I'll play any position, any day.' It's a chance to play."
Bums' manager Jon Cahill said having a player like Brown on the roster is invaluable.
"Especially with the injuries we had and the bad-play performances," the second-year skipper said. "If you needed a left fielder, you knew he could do that. If you needed a third baseman, you knew he could do that.
"He's like (the Detroit Tigers') Brandon Inge. You can throw him anywhere and not lose anything. He may not be the best at every position, but you're not going to lose anything. He's not going to hurt you."
Brown had advanced versatility training in college. As a senior, he was asked to pull off a special feat -- play all nine positions, in a game against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne.
"My coach had done it once before," Brown said. "He came up to me and asked me if I wanted to do it and I said, 'Absolutely.'
"It was one of the highlights of my career because I like to move around. A lot of people like to have one position and be comfortable. I like to move around."
Brown started his venture around the diamond at second base, his normal position. He then played shortstop, third base and first before catching the fifth inning. Brown even threw out a runner attempting to steal.
After playing all three outfield positions, Brown came in to pitch in the ninth. All he did was get the last three outs for the save.
At the plate, Brown was 2-for-3 with a double.
Brown likes to play different positions so much, it's hard to name his favorite right away.
"It changes," he said. "It used to be second base, but lately I've liked third base a lot. I'm comfortable there.
"It's a reaction position and I think I react to the ball pretty well. I just have fun there."
Brown became a catcher for the Beach Bums last season out of necessity when Curtis Ledbetter and Matt Rademacher were injured on the same day.
"Cahill came over to me and said, 'Can you catch?' " Brown recalled. "They didn't expect much out of me, but I did my best."
Cahill said he had confidence throwing Brown into an emergency situation. The manager had seen Brown catch the relief pitchers in the bullpen and also handle duties behind the plate in simulated games.
"It was one of the reasons we gave him a shot to do it," Cahill said. "We saw how he could receive the ball and he did a pretty good job of it."
Now catching is probably Brown's second-favorite position.
"I don't get to do it much, but I like to catch," he said. "I like to be back there. There's something about that you're in every play."
Not that it really matters to Brown where he winds up on the diamond.
"We play 96 games," Brown said. "If you can play five or six different positions, you're going to be in the lineup a lot."
Being in the lineup that often, and logging 299 at-bats, might have hurt Brown offensively down the stretch. He had a good month of July to raise his average to .261.
He wound up hitting .207 with eight doubles, five home runs and 37 RBIs. Brown also scored 38 runs and stole four bases for the Bums.
"He wasn't ready for it," Cahill said. "He's not used to getting that many at-bats."
As the new season dawns, Brown is ready for his role. He's also ready for the call.
"Wherever I need to be," he said.
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